He said: "Their flagship policy to offer choices to expectant mothers over where and how they give birth is underpinned by assumptions about the number of births which are wide of the mark.

"Across the country, birth centres are closing and the government's promise of more home births is not being acted on.

"Labour are trying to pursue a policy for which they do not have the staff. We are 3,600 midwives short and yet the number of midwives is going and newly trained midwives can't find jobs."

He added: "Mothers want choices over the care they receive during pregnancy and high standards which depend upon the availability of midwives yet Labour's current plans cannot deliver it."

Dame Karlene Davis, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said a survey of heads of midwifery carried out by the college last month showed three-quarters had seen an increase in birth rate on their units, and over 80% did not have the staffing levels they needed to cope.

She told the BBC: "We have seen too many service cuts, too many midwives lost, and too many mothers and babies getting a service that should shame the fourth richest country in the world.

"Action is needed, and needed now, to put the resources and effort needed into maternity services."

But a Department of Health spokesman accused the Conservatives of "irresponsible scaremongering", according to the BBC.

The spokesman said: "There are now 2,423 more midwives than there were 10 years ago.

"The number of students entering the profession has risen by 44%. And 80% of women are happy with the maternity services they receive. This is hardly a picture of 'chaos'."